Now, medical diagnostic scientists also can release lab test report
02 Mar 2020 10:30:57
Principal Correspondent :
Giving respite to medical diagnostic scientists the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a notification by the virtue of which it has allowed them (medical diagnostic scientists) to release laboratory test report. It said, these medical diagnostic scientists are competent enough to do it. At the same time the notification has made it clear, these scientists cannot record any opinion for medical diagnosis and they have to write so on the report of patient. While issuing notification Government has clearly said it has been done aligning with international guidelines and norms followed in medical laboratory services.
The medical diagnostic scientists include those who have done M.Sc in Pathology, Medical Microbiology or medical Biochemistry or Molecular Biologist or Geneticists. Association of Clinical Biochemists and Microbiologists (ACBM) has welcomed the Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2020, 2020 relating to ‘Human Resource’ for Medical Diagnostic Laboratories to a large extent. Through this notification, the recommendation of the Board of Governors (BoG) in supersession to Medical Council of India (MCI) to the ministry paved way for this magnanimous shift.
Dr Ajay Soni, President of ACBM said that the recommendation is in line with the Delhi High Court verdict dated September 15, 2017, that was petitioned by ACBM and the court order was delivered in agreement with the counsel for MCI. Earlier, a plea filed in Delhi High court by ACBM against the earlier Gazette notification on CEA, released by the MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) on May 18, 2018 and the court’s subsequent order to the Government to hear the petitioners was also very helpful.
The patient hearing given by all the high officials in the DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services) and MoHFW to the concerns raised by the ACBM members represented by Dr Soni, Vice Presidents - Dr Harsh and Dr Rishabh and Secretary - Dr Siva helped in clearing the misconception of the Government who were till then wrongly equating University Grants Commission (UGC) approved MSc and PhD qualified professional courses in the disciplines of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Molecular Biology etc to be at par with the vocational training courses under National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) like DMLT. Dr Soni who was helpful in coursing this monumental decision said, “The decision by the ruling Government under the able leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a High-Power Committee meeting on August 16, 2018, based on the letter written by me from ACBM.”
The present Gazette notification, still requires few amendments to be made in order to accommodate professional qualifications mentioned in the existing acts namely The Drugs Association of Clinical Biochemists and Microbiologists and Cosmetics Act, 1945 (amended on 2019) and The PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act, 1994 (amended on 2003) that comes under the MoHFW. Members of ACBM are in touch with the ministry in getting this sorted and make the CEA a truly holistic and responsible Act towards providing a proper and better healthcare facility to all the citizens of India and be a role model for others.
Self-regulatory body gets principle approval
There is lot of struggle going on by the allied associations of those who have done M.Sc and Ph.D in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and others to get constituted separate council. Similarly, Association of Clinical Biochemists and Microbiologists (ACBM) has been striving hard to get their regulatory council constituted. Finally ACBM comes up with self regulating body which has been approved principally by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.